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Indian Agricultural Food Exports Rise Sharply

ANALYSIS - The Indian agricultural food products have seen a dramatic rise in exports over the last two years – rising by 55 per cent two years ago and 13 per cent last year, writes Chris Harris.

Last year figures from the Ministry of Food Processing show that wheat and rice products led the way.

In 2011-12 wheat exports rose to more than $202 million and then soared to more than $1.9 billion – a growth of 857.2 per cent. However the export sales of wheat were just 5.36 per cent of the total agrifoods’ export market.

Close behind the rise in exports of wheat were the rises in export sales of basmati and other rice products.

Basmati rice exports rose by 29 per cent two years ago and then last year by 10.7 per cent to reach $3.56 billion, which other rice sales rose by 53.6 per cent last year to reach $2.65 billion.

Production of food grains during 2012-13 was around 255.36 million tonnes compared to 259.29 million tonnes in 2011-12.

Meat and meat preparations, largely bolstered by the sales of buffalo beef, have risen by 48.2 per cent two years ago followed by a 12.7 per cent rise last year to £3.3 billion and taking 9.13 per cent of the total export market.

Poultry product sales also saw a sharp rise in 2011-12, going up by28.7 per cent followed by a 5.7 per cent rise last year to $84.79 million.

Two years ago, export sales of dairy products took a severe hit, dropping by 31.3 per cent.

However, over the last year they rose sharply by 153.4 per cent to reach $326 million.

Fish and marine product exports rose sharply two years ago and remained fairly static last year according to the official figures with sales reaching nearly $3.5 billion.

Overall, agrifood exports for India were worth more than $36 billion and have been showing continual growth over the last three years with rises of 38 per cent three years ago, more than 55 per cent two years ago and 12 per cent last year.